IHF Beach Handball Showcase: Paradžik – “We must capitalise on the strengths of the sport”

From 27 to 29 July, the ‘IHF Beach Handball Showcase’ will take place on the fringes of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Three men’s and three women’s All-star Teams, plus the French men’s and women’s national teams will play Beach Handball games across three days coached by six world-renowned, medal-laden coaches.

In total, 64 (32 men, 32 women) of the world’s best Beach Handball players from 18 countries will feature, including players from Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Islamic Republic of Iran, Netherlands, Norway, People’s Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, United States of America and Uruguay.

In a special series of question and answers, IHF.info hears from players and coaches selected for the showcase. This time, it is Croatia coach Mladen Paradžik, who guided his side to both the 2022 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship and The World Games 2022 titles - and just last month (after this interview) the 2024 IHF Men's Beach Handball World Championship. He will be one of the coaches at the event in Paris.

IHF.info: How do you feel to be selected for this event?

Mladen Paradžik: All the nominees would probably tell you the same, but it is really a great honour and pleasure to be nominated for a historic event like this. I must express my gratitude to the IHF board who made this decision. After Lausanne in 2015, where I took part as a player in the first showcase tournament in front of IOC President, this opportunity is like the cherry on the cake for me.

IHF.info: Why is the IHF Beach Handball Showcase important for Beach Handball?

Mladen Paradžik: Every event is important for Beach Handball and its presence at almost all major multi-event competitions contributes to its popularity and development.

The World Games, Youth Olympic Games, ANOC World Beach Games, European Games, Mediterranean Beach Games, University Games are just some of the major competitions that drive the development and progress of Beach Handball.

We all agree that the opportunity to become part of the Olympic family would advance Beach Handball more than anything else, which is the most important reason why I believe this event is hugely important.

IHF.info: What has been your biggest success in Beach Handball as a coach?

Mladen Paradžik: My biggest success was the moment I became a head coach of Croatian national men’s team in 2018, when I got the opportunity to work with many motivated players.

The results that the whole team accomplish together were just an added value for all of us and the continuity of a good work of our previous generations. From that perspective, 2022 was extremely successful for us, since we won the IHF World Championship in Greece, The World Games in the USA and the first-ever stage of the IHF Beach Handball Global tour in Poland.

IHF.info: What do you love about Beach Handball? / How does Beach Handball make you feel?

Mladen Paradžik: The whole atmosphere at Beach Handball is completely different, even in big competitions where the result is important to everyone. The friendliness and fairness of the whole Beach Handball community is something that is really important in Beach Handball competitions.

As a player, I liked the fact that there were no serious injuries in Beach Handball and that I had the opportunity to see the world doing something I really enjoyed.

As one of the organisers of the Beach Handball tournaments in Croatia, I can say that I am grateful for having met many great people through the sport.

Today, I enjoy the sport from different angles by watching the development of the sport, raising the standards of event organisations step-by-step and seeing Beach Handball being present at more and more different events – these are the things that make me happy.

IHF.info: What are your hopes for the future of Beach Handball and the Olympic Games?

Mladen Paradžik: We have to be realistic, smart and persistent, but above all, we have to keep working hard.

Every player, head coach, event organiser and official must do their best by promoting and developing the sport in their micro-niche. We must capitalise on the strengths of the sport (attractiveness, fairness, interest for the public, presence on all continents with national teams at the highest level), learn to use them properly and try to develop Beach Handball as a product that satisfies all interested parties.

IHF.info: What would you say to anyone who has never played or watched Beach Handball and is thinking of getting involved with the sport?

Mladen Paradžik: Beach Handball offers every person a lot of opportunities and for me it's a tool to meet a lot of great people. If you like exercising and travelling there is no better sport to combine these things. To cut the story short – Beach Handball is the best sport ever.

The IHF Beach Handball Showcase is a collaborative effort between the IHF, Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (COJOP2024), French Handball Federation (FFHB) and International Olympic Committee (IOC).